A bus driver believes the anti-terrorism pedestrian barriers on one side of Hampton Court Bridge are an "accident waiting to happen".

The barriers were installed before the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show at the start of July on the London side of the bridge, to protect pedestrians walking from the railway station.

Bus driver Ian Allam, from West Molesey , is a regular user of the bridge and has issues with the positioning of the barriers.

"Firstly I must say that I'm not against the barriers being placed there," the 59-year-old said.

"But why just on the bridge and only on one side? Between the Palace gates and the foot of the bridge there is a vast open pavement area where people walk and gather.

"Why do the authorities only consider the bridge to be vulnerable?

"I find it an accident waiting to happen as it is at the moment."

In June barriers were installed over all major bridges in the capital following the terror attack on London Bridge when a van ploughed into pedestrians.

The operation was led by the Metropolitan Police, with support from Transport for London.

Large concrete blocks protect pedestrians at each end (Image: Steve Porter)

On Hampton Court Bridge large concrete blocks sit at each end, with sturdy barriers sitting on the road at the edge of the pavement.

"The first time I encountered them I was driving a bus, I knew the barriers were there but not that they were in the carriageway," Mr Allam said.

"I found myself approaching them and having nowhere to go as a car was alongside me ."

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Mr Allam's second experience was in his car.

"I knew the barriers were now in the road and as such took the offside lane to go over the bridge," he said.

"A car tried to pass on the inside of me, came to the barriers and just swerved out taking up half of my carriageway. Again I had no alternative but to brake hard.

"What happens if a cyclist needs to move out to go round the barriers? I know the other side of the bridge has a cycle path but they are not obliged to use it."

A regular bridge user believes the barriers could be moved onto the pavement (Image: Steve Porter)

Mr Allam thinks the barriers would be safer if they were placed on top of the kerb.

He added: "Signs warning of it, in my opinion, wouldn't work. There's more than enough going on there to keep a driver's attention, pedestrians crossing, lane discipline, direction signs etc.

"If moving them up on to the kerb is not an option at least they should consider painting a white line along the gutter and going out and round the barriers."

Get Surrey contacted the Metropolitan Police, Surrey Police, the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Surrey County Council and Transport for London but all the organisations denied installing the barriers.